The 2014 Atlanta Film Festival was held March 28 - April 6, 2014.

Now in its fourth decade, the Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF)—one of only two dozen Academy Award® qualifying festivals in the United States—is the area’s preeminent celebration of cinema. As one of the largest and longest-running festivals in the country, ATLFF welcomes an audience of over 25,000 to discover hundreds of new independent, international, animated, documentary and short films, selected from 3000+ submissions from all over the world. The festival was started in 1976 and takes place every spring. It is also the most distinguished event in its class, recognized as Best Film Festival by Creative Loafing, Sunday Paper, 10Best and Atlanta Magazine. The Accountant won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2002 after qualifying at the 2001 Atlanta Film Festival. Since 2008, the festival has presented the Pink Peach, which is awarded to the best LGBTQ film as chosen by the Pink Peach jury.

In 2013, the festival moved its official home to the historic Plaza Theatre in Atlanta's Poncey-Highland area. The 7 Stages Theatre in the city's Little Five Points district also serves as a festival venue.

Notes from our Programmers

"From the moment the first submitted films arrived at our office, to the finalization of programmed content, I was exposed to hundreds of stories from a diverse community of global filmmakers. My mission during this process was to curate the stories that would resonate deeply within Atlanta's own community of filmmakers and those who share in their love of the moving image.

While the art of filmmaking continues to become more refined, it's also becoming more accessible. This year's narrative and documentary features include a number of films produced here in Georgia. This is an exciting time of growth for the Atlanta filmmaking community. The Atlanta Film Festival continues to strive towards creating a connection between an artist and an audience. We hope that we have created a unique and inspiring experience for everyone of you."

Sincerely,Kristy Breneman - Programming Director

"I'd be lying if I said my brain doesn’t look like a zoetrope on the inside; filled with images of the 2,200+ short film submissions we received this year. These images will probably continue to haunt me for months to come, but I'd also be lying if I said I didn't love zoetropes.

Making a great short film is a remarkable feat; it's very difficult to tell a story that people can relate to and that moves them in a very short amount of time. These films rarely go viral, much less land distribution deals with Hollywood studios. However, each expands the possibilities of short form storytelling and provides testimony to the short film's essential contribution to visual culture. These films are all truly memorable and it's a privilege to present such a remarkable collection of work from all over the world. We hope that they fill your heads with images and memories you will hold on to for months to come.

I'm eternally grateful to my team of diligent interns who made programming this festival possible (and also, make it rain glitter). Whittling 2,200+ submissions down to about 79 is truly challenging, but we've ended up with a program where every selection has a distinctive view, idea, or moment that absolutely demands to be seen. The local shorts additionally provide a unique insight into our unparalleled city; an untold story, if you will. These short films are as rare and valuable as the form itself, yet they do not share one definitive formula. Like all relevant and meaningful art, the films define themselves."